As had been suggested, CMC today reported that experienced West Indian campaigners Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard have not been named in the 15-man squad announced for the World Cup today.
Reports in the region had suggested that both were being left out as punishment for their part in the revolt by West Indian players which curtailed their cricket tour of India last year.
The side will be led by Jason Holder, who was named as skipper for the five-match series against South Africa bowling off later this month.
He will have as his deputy, Marlon Samuels, with embattled off-spinner Sunil Narine, former skipper Darren Sammy and Darren Bravo all included.
SQUAD – Jason Holder (Captain), Marlon Samuels (Vice Captain), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Christopher Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor.
The WICB this evening issued the following press release:
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board today announced the West Indies squad to contest the Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.
Jason Holder (Captain)
Marlon Samuels (Vice Captain)
Sulieman Benn
Darren Bravo
Jonathan Carter
Sheldon Cottrell
Christopher Gayle
Sunil Narine
Denesh Ramdin
Kemar Roach
Andre Russell
Darren Sammy
Lendl Simmons
Dwayne Smith
Jerome Taylor
Chairman of the Selection Panel Clive Lloyd said he has high hopes for the squad which is a competitive mix of experienced players and some fresh faces.
“I believe we have selected a very good team which will do West Indies proud at the World Cup. We have a good mixture of some good seasoned players and some good youngsters who will fly the West Indies flag in Australia and New Zealand,” Lloyd said.
“If they play to their potential I am quite sure we will do very well. I have really high hopes in this team – I believe they can do something special. We have the talent and if we can play to our potential we have a very good chance of lifting that trophy,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd, a double world cup winning captain (1975 and 1979), said that the prestige of the Cricket World Cup offers a significant opportunity for the team to bring pride to the Caribbean region similar to the success of the West Indies team in the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012.
“This is a very prestigious world event, one of the biggest sporting events on the international calendar and it is a huge opportunity to create something historic and memorable for West Indies cricket and the people of the region,” Lloyd said.
Highly rated off spinner Sunil Narine returns to the Jason Holder captained squad and will share spin duties with left armer Sulieman Benn. Also returning to the squad is top order batsman Darren Bravo who had taken time away from the game to address some personal matters. Fast bowler Kemar Roach returns after suffering an injury in the recently completed Test series against South Africa.
Seasoned batsman Marlon Samuels has been appointed Vice Captain.
The most experienced ODI player in the squad is opener Chris Gayle with 258 appearances. Samuels (162), Denesh Ramdin (115) and Darren Sammy (115) all have over a hundred ODI games under their belts. Dwayne Smith (94) could achieve his 100th appearance during the Cricket World Cup.
The squad has a total of 1156 ODI appearances with only Sheldon Cottrell and Jonathan Carter yet to debut internationally. Carter and Cottrell are both in the West Indies ODI squad to face South Africa in a five match series to commence shortly.
